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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2015 Publication Date: 8/2/2015 Citation: Niemira, B.A. 2015. Postharvest processing technologies to improve food safety and quality. Meeting Abstract. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. Pasadena, California. August 1-5, 2015. Volume 1, Page 1. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Contamination of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables by foodborne pathogens is an ongoing problem. The limitations of conventional sanitation methods have prompted research into novel interventions. In addition to advanced applications of gas-phase chemical sanitizers, several promising physical treatments are in development. Cold plasma is a nonthermal food processing technology which uses energetic, reactive gases to inactivate contaminating microbes. This flexible sanitizing method uses electricity and a carrier gas such as air, oxygen, nitrogen or helium; antimicrobial chemical agents are not required. The primary modes of action are via reactive chemical products of the cold plasma ionization process and UV light. Reductions of greater than 5 logs can be obtained for pathogens such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Additional treatments rely on precise applications of high intensity light, either as pulsed broad-spectrum exposures, or as a narrow-band, monochromatic light treatment. This presentation will summarize the science behind these technologies and describe recent advances. Finally, key areas of future research will be described that will facilitate commercialization. |
